Transcriptomic Response to Germline Ablation, Mating and Infection in Drosophila

To investigate potential immunity costs of reproduction at the gene expression level, we manipulated germline proliferation (i.e., comparing germline-less versus fertile flies, by using ectopic overexpression of bag of marbles relative to fertile controls) and mating status (mated versus virgin) in Drosophila melanogaster females. Transcriptomes of these flies were obtained after bacterial infection induced by pricking flies with (a) the gram-negative bacterium Pectobacterium (Erwinia) carotovora carotovora (Ecc15) or (b) the gram-positive bacterium Enterococcus faecalis (Ef) or (c) after aseptic (pricking) injury, as controls.

为探究繁殖在基因表达水平上的潜在免疫代价，我们对黑腹果蝇（Drosophila melanogaster）雌性个体开展了两项操控实验：一是生殖系增殖调控——通过相对于可育对照异位过表达大理石基因（bag of marbles），比较生殖系缺失与可育果蝇；二是交配状态调控，设置已交配与处女蝇两组。随后，我们通过三种处理方式获取上述果蝇的转录组：(a) 以革兰氏阴性菌胡萝卜软腐果胶杆菌胡萝卜亚种（Pectobacterium (Erwinia) carotovora carotovora，Ecc15）针刺感染；(b) 以革兰氏阳性菌粪肠球菌（Enterococcus faecalis，Ef）针刺感染；(c) 仅进行无菌针刺损伤作为对照。